The Obama administration said Tuesday it has certified that Egypt is upholding its peace treaty with Israel and therefore qualifies for some military and counterterrorism assistance. Secretary of State John Kerry informed Egypt’s foreign minister, Nabil Fahmy, of the decision in a telephone call, crediting the Egyptian government with sustaining its strategic relationship with the United States and fulfilling its obligations to Israel, according to State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki. The decision clears the way for the release of Apache helicopters to Egypt, which the United States has held up since July when the Egyptian military overthrew President Mohammed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood-led government. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel informed Defense Minister Col. Gen. Sedki Sobhi of President Barack Obama’s decision to deliver the Apaches in support of Egypt’s counterterrorism operations in the Sinai, the Pentagon said. [AP, Ahram Online, Reuters, DNE, Aswat Masriya, 4/23/2014]
EGYPT | LIBYA | SYRIA | TUNISIA | YEMEN | RELATED ISSUES
Egypt issues law barring challenges to state deals
Egypt’s interim President Adly Mansour on Tuesday approved a law that would restrict the right to challenge state business and real estate deals to only the government, its involved institutes and business partners, a presidency statement said. The law, long-waited by businessmen and investors, is meant, according to the presidential statement to boost business in Egypt. Since the 2011 revolt, Egyptian courts have issued at least eleven rulings ordering the state to reverse deals signed by former administrations. The lawsuits were mostly brought by activists and lawyers who allege that companies were sold off too cheaply in deals that were representative of corrupt business practices. [Reuters, 4/22/2014]
Incarcerated April 6 leader calls for international review of Protest Law conviction
Cofounder of the April 6 Youth Movement Mohamed Adel filed an official request from prison Saturday that the cassation session for his three year sentence for breaking the Protest Law be reviewed by an international court. A leading member of April 6 said that Adel’s demand was a “satirical response” to interim president Adly Mansour’s statement that the Protest Law is in line with international standards and is applied in a number of European countries. Defense lawyer Amr Imam said, if needed, the team intends to take the case to international courts after all steps in Egyptian courts of all levels are completed. [DNE, 4/22/2014]
Egypt to pay some $1 bln owed to oil firms within two months
Egypt will pay about $1 billion of the money it owes to foreign oil companies within the next two months, the state’s MENA news agency said, quoting Oil Minister Sherif Ismail. Egypt says it owes some $6.3 billion to those companies. It last year said it paid $1.5 billion of the money it owes the international firms as part of a repayment scheme seeking to revive confidence in the economy after years of turmoil. The country has previously said it would repay a further $3 billion in monthly installments until 2017 as an incentive to encourage foreign oil companies to increase exploration and production. [Aswat Masriya, 4/22/2014]
US clears Egypt for military assistance
The Obama administration said Tuesday it has certified that Egypt is upholding its peace treaty with Israel and therefore qualifies for some military and counterterrorism assistance. Secretary of State John Kerry informed Egypt’s foreign minister, Nabil Fahmy, of the decision in a telephone call, crediting the Egyptian government with sustaining its strategic relationship with the United States and fulfilling its obligations to Israel, according to State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki. The decision clears the way for the release of Apache helicopters to Egypt, which the United States has held up since July when the Egyptian military overthrew President Mohammed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood-led government. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel informed Defense Minister Col. Gen. Sedki Sobhi of President Barack Obama’s decision to deliver the Apaches in support of Egypt’s counterterrorism operations in the Sinai, the Pentagon said. [AP, Ahram Online, Reuters, DNE, Aswat Masriya, 4/23/2014]
Libya starts voter registration for general elections
Libya will start registering voters for general elections, officials said on Tuesday, in the first concrete step indicating a vote will take place later this year. In February, after controversy surrounding its expired mandate, the General National Congress agreed to hold early elections for a new parliament in an effort to assuage Libyans frustrated at political chaos. Voter registration will begin Wednesday, according to head of the elections commission Emad al-Shadi al-Saih, who called on Libyans to participate in the elections in order to rebuild the country. Meanwhile, former National Transitional Council minister Ali Tarhouni was elected head of the Constitutional Committee that will draft the country’s new constitution. An economist and politician, he is widely seen as a liberal choice. [Reuters, 4/22/2014]
Debate continues as GNC fails to agree on new prime minister
General National Congress (GNC) members continue to debate the seven prime ministerial candidates vying to replace caretaker Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni. Tuesday’s scheduled GNC session was cancelled to give political blocs the opportunity to further discuss the candidates who presented their agendas and platforms. According to one legislator, some members had also discussed potential candidates to replace GNC President Nuri Abu Sahmain whose position has become tenuous following the circulation of leaked video footage of an incident earlier in the year. [Libya Herald, 4/22/2014]
National Dialogue tour back on the road
As part of the National Dialogue’s first three-month phase, the Preparatory Commission (NDPC) has announced that it will take its Engagement and Participation Tour to eight extra Libyan towns over the next two weeks. These additional towns include Ojilat, Jufra, Kufra and Al-Shati. The aim of the tour is to give all Libyans the chance to share their views about national identity, the future of country, and what factors unite Libyans. NDPC Chairman Fadeel Lameen stressed his team’s commitment to engage all Libyans despite logistical challenges. [Libya Herald, 4/22/2014]
Jordanian foreign ministry confirms ambassador still held in Libya
The Jordanian foreign ministry confirmed today that its kidnapped ambassador to Libya, Fawwaz al-Eitan, has not been released and called upon the media to exercise caution when reporting on the case. Libyan Justice Minister Salah Marghani also denied reports of the ambassador’s release, following information circulating on certain news and social media sites. Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh has said investigations are ongoing and that authorities are working closely with their Libyan counterparts. Al-Eitan was abducted by gunmen in Tripoli last week. The kidnappers are reportedly demanding the release of a Libyan serving a life sentence in Jordan on a terrorism charge. [Libya Herald, 4/23/2014]
MP from Aleppo becomes first presidential challenger
A Syrian lawmaker has registered as the first-ever challenger for the presidency in an upcoming election expected to return incumbent Bashar al-Assad to power, the speaker of parliament said on Wednesday. Syria’s state news agency announced that Maher Abdul Hafiz Hajjar has filed for his candidacy. The Syrian opposition has slammed the planned election as a “farce,” while the United Nations and the Arab League have said it poses a major obstacle to efforts for a negotiated peace. The government has not laid out how it plans to hold a credible election with large swathes of the country outside its control. [Gulf News, 4/23/2014]
France to stop citizens joining Syria war
France has unveiled steps to stop its citizens from joining the Syrian civil war and prevent young French Muslims from posing a threat to their home country. France’s foreign minister estimates the number of its nationals directly involved in the Syrian conflict is about 500. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the steps could go as far as stripping people of French nationality and minors would be prevented from leaving France without parental consent and that the names of those identified as wanting to leave for jihad would be shared with other EU members. French nationals who returned from Syria could now also automatically face criminal charges for being part of a terrorist organization, he said. [Al-Jazeera, 4/23/2014]
UN agencies say Syria aid needs largely unanswered
Five UN agencies say their appeal for $6.5 billion in humanitarian assistance to Syria has been mostly ignored. With only $1.2 billion pledged, the agency heads are renewing their December appeal, emphasizing that the humanitarian situation in Syria is deteriorating by the day. The December appeal “has gone largely unanswered” for a crisis affecting 9.3 million people, said a joint statement, adding “the worst days are yet to come” for civilians remaining in Aleppo, Homs, and other areas with heavy fighting. [AP, 4/23/2014]
Syrian opposition asks for more Saudi aid
The head of Syria’s main opposition group has asked Saudi Arabia to increase its support for the rebel Free Syrian Army, his advisor said Wednesday. Ahmed Jarba, head of the opposition National Coalition, met with Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz and Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal on Tuesday. “The talks focused on continuing the Saudi aid and on the need to strengthen the capacities of the Free Syrian Army,” Jarba’s advisor said. Jarba emphasized increased aid from Russia and Iran to the Assad regime and the opposition’s ongoing conflicts with jihadist groups like Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. [The Daily Star, 4/23/2014]
Tunisia achieved two MDGs, close to four more
Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Maria Luisa Fornara announced that Tunisia has achieved two of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The country has cut in half the number of people who live in extreme poverty and it will manage by 2015 to reduce the number of people who do not have access to drinking water and health commodities. [All Africa, 4/22/2014]
NCA continues to pass draft electoral law
On Tuesday, the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) passed articles thirty-three to sixty of the draft electoral law, with the exception of article fifty-four on political advertising. The Commission of Compromises will meet Wednesday before the plenary session to carry on examination and adoption, article by article, of the draft electoral law. [TAP, 4/23/2014]
Government opted for long-term economic reforms
At the opening of the preparatory meeting for the National Conference on Economy set for next May 28, interim Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa said he and his team chose to launch long-term economic reforms. Jomaa also called for his team to be kept away from political wrangling and urged different political parties to help him and his cabinet focus on economic difficulties. Rebooting the economy and providing a favorable environment for elections in late 2014 are the top priorities for the government. [All Africa, 4/22/2014]
Protests in Sana’a over fuel scarcity
Thousands of Yemenis protested in the capital on Wednesday over the petroleum scarcity crisis that is gripping the country. Participants accused the government of corruption and condemned the notion of lifting subsidies on fuel derivatives, calling on the government to step down in favor of a more efficient, transparent government. The protests were organized by the February 11 Campaign. Houthis also participated in the protests, and called on the resignation of the minister of oil. [Barakish Net (Arabic), 4/23/2014]
Houthis call on Hadi to share power
For the first time, the Houthi group has officially asked the government to share power and engage in “quotas” to ensure such power sharing structures. Some observers however, viewed the message as a threat rather than a conciliatory gesture as they Houthis warned of a deepening crisis if President Abdrabbo Mansour Hadi failed to address the group. [Al-Ahale (Arabic), 4/22/2014]
Attacks in Hadhramout cost Yemen $126 million in February
The repeated attacks against oil pipelines in Hadhramout have led to a decrease in exports estimated at 800,000 barrels in February compared to around two million this April. A formal report issued by the Yemeni Central Bank indicates that the deterioration in petroleum exports decreased an estimated USD 126 million from the month before. [Saba News, 4/22/2014]
Extensive US involvement in anti-terror operations
The United States offered extensive assistance beyond drone strikes during a massive anti-terror operation in Yemen, including flying Yemeni commandos to a site where they killed scores of suspected al Qaeda members, a US official said. US Special Operations troops wore night-vision gear and flew Yemeni forces to a remote, mountainous spot in southern Yemen, according to a senior US official. The Yemeni helicopters that the US personnel flew were Russian-made, which helped to minimize the US footprint during the operation. [CNN, 4/22/2014]
Lebanese parliament fails to elect new president
Lebanese MPs failed to select a new president on Wednesday, in what may herald the beginning of a fierce and divisive competition to elect a new head of state. The president of Lebanon, traditionally a Maronite Christian, is elected by a secret ballot, but no consensus candidate has emerged with enough support in the country’s parliament to win an outright victory. The most prominent candidate, Samir Geagea of the Lebanese Forces Party, received forty-eight votes, falling short of the two-thirds majority needed for an outright, first-round victory. [Asharq al-Awsat, 4/23/2014]
Baghdad claims preliminary accord in oil talks, Kurds say no
Iraq’s deputy prime minister for energy affairs claimed that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) had agreed that the exports would be within the framework of Iraqi regulations, and that they had not begun yet due to technical reasons. However, there has been no indication from the KRG that such an accord has been agreed. Earlier, KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani announced that talks with Baghdad had made no progress. “We were expecting to reach an agreement within Iraq and for that we showed a lot of patience, but our patience has a limit,” the premier said at a news conference. “If we know we can’t reach an agreement we will have our own solution,” he warned, seemingly alluding to exporting oil to Turkey without the central government’s approval. [Rudaw, 4/23/2014]
National unity government agreed in Palestine
Rival Palestinian leaders from the West Bank and Gaza Strip have decided to form a government of national unity within the next five weeks, officials said early on Wednesday. The agreement between members of the Palestinian Liberation Organization and Hamas was reached following talks in Gaza City which began on Tuesday evening, said a PLO member. The anonymous source also indicated progress in agreeing on elections. [AFP, 4/23/2014]
Iran denies role in Bahrain unrest, urges respect for human rights
Iran denied any role in the violent unrest affecting neighboring Bahrain, accusing Manama of looking for a scapegoat to justify its human rights abuses. A Bahraini court sentenced twelve men to life in prison after convicting them of spying and receiving military training from Iranian Revolutionary Guards, a defense lawyer and rights activist said on Tuesday. Street marches and confrontations with security forces are a common occurrence in Bahrain, where the Shia revolt continues despite strong-arm tactics used by the ruling Al Khalifa family. [Reuters, 4/22/2014]